Outimage Australia - Audi Sydney Gold Coast 2009 - Tactical Start and light winds up the coast

The outimage dot net ocean yacht racing banner is an image of Roger Sturgeon's Transpac 65 Rosbud from the United States, working up Hobart's Derwent River into the late afternoon to take out an overall win of the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The photograph was taken by Peter Andrews.

Outimage Publications ocean yacht racing coverage.

Tactical Start and light winds up the coast.

By CYCA Event Media.

Photos and edited By Peter Andrews.

10:00 AEST, July 25, 2009.

The Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race fleet will leave Sydney Harbour in light conditions making the start at 13:00 AEST today off Nielsen Park a very tactical one.

The Bureau of Meteorology delivered its final race forecast at this morning’s weather briefing with little change from previous days. For today’s start a light NW breeze of 5 to 10 knots is forecast with the wind changing to NNE into the evening. Light westerly land breezes will mark a chilly Saturday evening with NNE winds continuing into Sunday, making it a tactical race for navigators trying to ensure that they do not fall into holes in the breeze.

Anthony Paterson's Tow Truck finished second in Division B, during Race 11 of the Audi Winter Series on Sydney Harbour.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

Anthony Paterson's Tow Truck finished second in Division B, during Race 11 of the Audi Winter Series on Sydney Harbour. Photo copyright Peter Andrews.

With a strong southerly current and light conditions, each skipper and navigator will have to make the decision if they go wide.

Tom Addis, navigator of Wild Oats X said that the lighter conditions will be frustrating. "It will be very hard for us to get away from everyone. The conditions are right for the smaller boats in the fleet. The bigger boats can wrestle with the inshore, offshore decision. We’ll probably be going offshore for a bit and see what it’s like."

Brett Filby, navigator of Tow Truck was still weighing up his options after this morning’s briefing. "If we do go out offshore, we may find it a bit difficult to come back into the rhumbline. It may be safer to stay inside and pick up what we can off the land breezes."

Bob Oatley's Wild Oats X is also compeating in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2009, seen here during the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge 2008.

Photo © Peter Andrews.

Bob Oatley's Wild Oats X is also compeating in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2009, seen here during the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge 2008. Photo copyright Peter Andrews.

The fleet can be tracked on the internet as they sail up the coast as each yacht is fitted with the CYCA’s unique yacht tracking device which sends regular updates, to the race website at: http://goldcoast.cyca.com.au.

Details of all yachts participating in the event can be found under ‘The Yachts’ tab. Line honours positions and handicap results will be updated regularly until the last boat cross the finish line.

For a full list of Audi Sydney Gold Coast entries go to http://goldcoast.cyca.com.au/yachts.asp?key=26.

For more information about the host club of the Audi Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht Race, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, please visit their website at: http://www.cyca.com.au/.

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